The rise of Abu Dhabi's skyline: from the Novotel to Burj Mohammed bin Rashid

Tower blocks in the capital grew progressively taller, although there has been no new leader for seven years

This aerial view of Abu Dhabi was taken in 1974. New buildings are rising and Qasr Al Hosn is prominent. Courtesy Ron McCulloch

The Novotel Centre Hotel on Hamdan Street became the tallest on completion in 1976, standing at 20 floors and almost 83 metres. Stephen Lock / The National

Silver Tower, located on the Corniche, became the tallest in 1990. Delores Johnson / The National

It stands at 120 metres and has 30 floors. Delores Johnson / The National

Le Royal Meridien Hotel in the downtown area took the mantle in 1993 with its 32 floors taking it to 121 metres. Alamy

Baynunah Hilton Tower as seen from the Abu Dhabi Corniche Park. Finished in 1994, it became the city's tallest at 165 metres with 40 floors. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) headquarters on Khalifa Street overtook Baynunah in 2002. It has 33 floors and stands 173 metres. Ravindranath K / The National

It's angular roof became a notable feature of the downtown skyline. Alamy

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority tower on the Corniche took over as tallest in 2006. It is 185 metres and has 40 floors. Stephen Lock / The National

Sun Tower, right, and Sky Tower under construction on Reem Island in May, 2009. Sky Tower would become the tallest when it completed in 2010. Sammy Dallal / The National

It stands 292 metres and has 74 floors. Silvia Razgova / The National

The Reem Island skyline these days is full of high rises. Sky Tower is on the far left. Christopher Pike / The National

The Landmark Tower on the Corniche pipped Sky Tower when it opened in 2011. The National

The Landmark stands 324 metres and has 72 floors. Fatima AL Marzooqi / The National

Burj Mohammed bin Rashid opened in 2014 and remains the tallest building in the city at 382 metres and with 92 floors. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

For fans of modern architecture, the UAE is an absolute feast.

Barely a month goes by without another new glistening skyscraper being added to the Abu Dhabi or Dubai skyline.

But some residents will recall a time when it was not like this, when the view of the sky was largely uninterrupted and the glowing light from the sunset beamed across the low-level city dwellings.

While Abu Dhabi's cityscape does not reach the heights of neighbouring Dubai, it has progressively grown taller during the past five decades.

The 10-floor Hilton Abu Dhabi stood out on the Corniche when it was opened by Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, on May 23, 1973. Now the Radisson Blu, it is dwarfed by new towers on both sides.

Another hotel took the city to new heights when the Novotel Centre Hotel opened in 1976.

It was the highest building for 14 years until the hulking Silver Tower opened on the Corniche in 1990.

The city centre continued to be the location for tall towers in the capital for the next 20 years.

Baynunah Tower housed a Hilton hotel and was distinctive for its blue-glass facade and white piping. It was essentially three towers in one.

It was the tallest in the region at the time of its completion in 1994.

In 2002 came the NBAD headquarters just off the Corniche on Khalifa Street, and then the 185-metre Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower in 2006.

"The building is alive and responsive to natural forces," said its architects, PLP Architecture.

"In the atrium, sails fold down to shade the sun. In the wings, an active facade of three layers and a solar-controlled blind shades work areas. The facade is used as an extract plenum, drawing cool air from the internal areas into its cavity and exhausting via the ceiling to the central core."

From 2010, much of the focus for tall buildings in the capital turned to Reem Island, where the Sun and Sky Towers development took the city's construction to new heights.

Sky Tower topped out at 292 metres and is still the tallest building on the island, although Addax Tower at 282m is close.

Its place at the top of the list of the capital's tallest towers was short-lived. The Landmark Tower opened on the Corniche in 2011 and then Burj Mohammed bin Rashid opened in 2014. It is the tallest in Abu Dhabi and fifth tallest in the UAE.

Tallest buildings in the Middle East

ALMAS TOWER, DUBAI, 360 metres: Part of Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Almas tower was briefly the tallest in Dubai when it was topped out in 2008. It is the headquarters of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, with high security vaults and safe deposits to protect clients' assets. Gabriela Maj / Bloomberg

ADDRESS BOULEVARD, DUBAI, 370 metres: Opened in March 2017, Address Boulevard boasts sells itself as a "city lifestyle resort". Residents and guests do not need to step onto the balmy streets to access Dubai Mall, which is it connected to with an air conditioned bridge. Not to be confused with the 300 metre tall Address Downtown, which was built in a similar modernist Art Deco style and opened in 2008. Courtesy: Emaar Hospitality

ELITE RESIDENCE, DUBAI, 380 metres: Opened in 2012, at an estimated cost of Dh1bn, the 91 floors have nearly 700 flats with views over Palm Jumeirah. It boasts a distinctive design and is recognisable on the marina skyline. Chris Whiteoak / The National

BURJ MOHAMMED BIN RASHID, ABU DHABI, 382 metres: Abu Dhabi makes it into the top 10, with a building named in honour of the Ruler of Dubai. Completed in 2013, the capital’s tallest building is part of the World Trade Centre which includes a mall and souq. Mona Al Marzooqi/ The National

23 MARINA, DUBAI, 392 metres: Briefly the world’s tallest residential tower, 23 Marina opened in 2012. It includes 57 swimming and plunge pools, with 62 high speed lifts, including one for each of the 23 four bedroom duplexes, and boasts views over Media City's lake and amphitheatre. Chris Whiteoak / The National

AL HAMRA TOWER, KUWAIT CITY, 412 metres: Kuwait’s tallest building is marked by its curved sculpted concrete exterior, which is also the world’s tallest of its type. It was completed in 2011 with offices, a shopping mall and a rooftop restaurant. AFP

PRINCESS TOWER, DUBAI, 413 metres: The tallest residential building in the world until it was overtaken by 432 Park Avenue in Manhattan five years ago, Princess Tower was opened in 2012 with 763 residential units. There are 107 storeys, including six underground, with an observation deck on the 97th floor. Chris Whiteoak / The National

MARINA 101, DUBAI, 425 metres: The second tallest building in Dubai is also the 27th tallest in the world. Construction began in 2006 and, although it was completed in 2017, the building remains unfinished and unoccupied due to financing issues. Chris Whiteoak / The National

MAKKAH ROYAL CLOCK TOWER, MAKKAH, 601 metres: Part of the Abraj Al Bayt complex, the tower over looks the Great Mosque of Makkah and the Kaaba and was completed in 2012. It includes the highest and tallest clock faces in the world – the minute hands alone are 23 metres long. AFP

BURJ KHALIFA, DUBAI, 828 metres: The tallest building in the world when it was completed in 2010, Burj Khalifa actually took the title a year earlier when it surpassed Taiwan’s Taipei 101. It boasts several world records, including the building with the most floors (163), the world’s longest elevators at 504m, and the world's highest restaurant. It is so tall the sun sets three minutes later on the observation deck than on the ground. Tarek Fahmy / Reuters

Tallest buildings in Abu Dhabi

1. Burj Mohammed bin Rashid, 382 metres

2. Adnoc HQ, 342 metres

3. The Landmark Tower, 324 metres

4. Etihad Tower 2, 305 metres

5. Sky Tower, 292 metres

6. Addax Tower, 282 metres

7. Trust Tower, 278 metres

8. Etihad Tower 1,278 metres

9. Nation Towers, 268 metres

10. Etihad Tower 3, 260 metres

11. Emirates Pearl, 255 metres

12. Gate Towers, 238 metres

13. Sun Tower, 238 metres

14. Etihad Tower 4, 234 metres

15. Nation Towers B, 233 metres